Laundry basket



1,642,643 Sept 13 N. cARRuTH LAUNDRY BASKET Filed Feb.26, 1926 Y3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmm sept'.13,1921. N. CARRUTH I 1,642,643

LAUNDRY BASKET Filed Feb.26. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 314mm to@ m @ZW/M;

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES l PATENT oFFicB.

LAGRANGE, GEORGIA, A CORPORATION OF GEORGIA.

LAUNDRY BASKET.

Application led February 26, 1926. Serial No.`90,884.

This invention relates to improvements in laundrybaskets of thatr type which are used to carry large quantitiesy of soiled clothing or likearti'cles from place to place in a laundry.

The 'principal object of theV invention is togen'erally'improve baskets ofthe type specified andy render them strong and durable and capable of being subjected to hard usage without injury by reinforcing the structure thereof at all points where neces sary through the mediumv of ak comparatively simple and effective continuous formationof the uprights of the frameof the basket with diagonally arranged intersecting cross braces disposed in the bottom framework 'of the basket". v f

A further object'of the inventioiris to provide a basket ofthe class specified liaving"a frame preferably made up of parts which may be readily associated and applied to abase and so arranged as to equally distribute the strain vover the entire basket v also,'the-fabric or canvas pouch or receptacle' structure in such manner as to prevent breaking' downor bending of the frame components and at the same'time produce a more effective base organization, and wherein,

associated'witli tliejframe will be shielded -againstiindue wear from the exterior of the basket.

Vith the foregoing land otherobjects and advantagesv inview, `the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the seveifayllparts which will be more fully heieinaft'er vdescribed and claimed.

In they drawings: y Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry basket embodying the featuresk of the invention and showing the fabric or canvas pouchr broken away in'part to more clearly illustrate the frame' organization. y

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the basket withfthe fabric or canvas pouch removed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofv a modified Yform of the basket with the fabric or canvas pouch removed. y y

Fig. /iis av longitudinal vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing parts of the basestructure broken away and also particularly illustrating end rollers`r and a centralswivel caster.

Fig." 5 is a topi plan view of afurther modiiied form ofthe basket with the fabric or canvas pouch removed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of theform of basket shown by Fig. 5.

The frame of the basket is composed ofv runners 5 in predetermined spaced rel-ation`A top portions of the runners 5 are regularly formed with seat recesses 10 extending there` f across in reverse diagonal directions inv accordance with the brace rods 7 which are fitted therein. The brace rods extend under thetie members or slats 6, and over the runners 5, and the ends of said tie members or slats v6 metal straps 11 are secured* and continued around the ends of the runners andpartwayunder the lower' side of' the latter, to form wear guards as at12. At the points of intersection of the reversely arranged diagonal bracerods 7 a portion of" the said rods, or the uppermost ones, are slightly bentor struckv upwardly to form seats 13 to partially embrace the intersecting rods 7 below the same andproducea close;

assemblage of the brace rods. The brace rods 7 form a part of the base structure of the frame of the improved basket, the com-` plete base structure including these rods, the

runners 5 and the cross members or slats 6 85 The runners 5 and the tie members or slats 6 are preferably formed of wood, but other material may be used if found necessary and the metal straps 11 are firmly secured to the runners and where they extend over the ends ofthe cross tie members or slats 6, said metal straps are struck upwardly as at 14, to provide an additional reinforcing means for the said members or slats 6, with obvious advantages to the general structure of the base of the frame of the basket. In the form of the basket shownby Figs.`1 and 2 the frame structure, or tlie'rods` 7 continued into the uprights y8 as well as the rim rod 9, are of comparatively small diameter but may ,be Vmodified Yas desired, and furthermore, the rim rod 9 is shown as circular in cross section but this rod may be oval or consist of a flat band as the shape thereof does not affect the function of this rod as a rim means. Also in the form of the basket shown by Figs. 1 and 2 there are but two runners and the brace rods 7 are confined to two pairs which centrally intersect.

The pouch 15, partially shown by Fig. 1, is of suitable fabric, preferably canvas, and is disposedl inside of the uprights 8 with the bottom 16 thereof resting upon the base organization of the frame of the basket. The upper edge,.of the pouch 15 is turned over and secured to the rim rod 9, as at 17, and the outer side of the said pouch is also connected to the uprights 8 by vertical strips 18 applied over the said uprights and secured against the outer side of the pouch. The pouch is also provided at each end with a handle or grip means 19, to facilitate draggingmovement of the basket.

,In Figs. 3 and 4 a modification of the basket is shown and consists in adding a central runner 2O having a metal strap 2l extending thereover and continuing around and under the ends of the runner in the same mannerv as shown by Fig. 1, the remaining parts of the frame structure in this form of t-he basket being mainly similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1l and 2 and having like reference characters applied thereto. In the form of the frame structure shown by Figs.

3 and 4 the cross tie members or slats 6 are increased in number, there being four of these crosstie members or slats shown by Figs. 1 and 2 and iive illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4. Moreover, the metal straps 11 on the outer side runners 5 are narrower than shouldered as at 22, to receive roller brackets 23 provided with rollers 24 of any suitable form to assist in the movement or propulsion of the basket, and at the center of the outer runners 5, rollers 25 are mounted to facilitate turning or swinging the basket during its movement. The brackets 23 with their rollcrs 24 and the rollers 25 may be of any suitable form and applied in any advantageous manner to the runners, the swivel rollers 25 having trunnions 26 seated in recesses 27, which are covered by bearing plates 28, as clearly shown by Fig. 4. In the slightly modified form of the basket as shown by Figs. 3 and 4 the diagonally arranged rods 7 continuing into the uprights 8 are of the same number as shown by Figs. 1 and 2 and their dimensions may be modified at will.

ln the further modified form of the basket l.as shown by Figs.5 and 6 there are two outer runners 29 and two intermediate runners 30 and 31, all of which have metal strips secured' against the upper sides thereof and continuing over the ends and under the said runners for a short distance similarly to the structure shown by Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The basket shown by Figs. 5 and 6 is of materially greater capacity than that shown byFigsi. 1 and 2 and the runners or skids are correspondingly increased to sustain the additiCu'ia'lI load that will be imposed upon the base: structure of the frame. It will also be seen that the diagonally arranged brace rods 33 in the structure shown by Figs. 5 and 6 are increased in number and are continued into angular' uprights 34 and attached at their upper terminals to a rim rod 35. The cross tie members or slats 36 are the same in number as in Figs. 3 and 4, the additional strength of the base structure in the modified form shown by Figs. 5 and 6 being obtained; through the additional runner orskid andil the increase in the number of diagonally arranged brace rods, which, as will be seen. have a correspondingly greater number of. angles of intersection and thereby also inf-- crease the solidity of the base structure of.

the frame. The end rollers or casters are secured to the end cross tie members or slats 36 and in this instance, also, are side rollers 38 in all respects similar to those disclosed by Figs. 3 and 4. It is only necessary to use two end rollers or casters 24 and 37, or one at each end in the center, the casters or rollers 24, with their brackets 23 being secured to the central runner or skid2O in Figs. 3 and 4 and, as just explained, to the centers of the end cross tie members or slats 36 in the form of the basket shown by Figs. 5 and 6. It will be understood that the same form of pouch 15 will be applied to the modified forms of the basket as illustrated by Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, as is shown in connection with the form of the basket illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, it being only necessary to increase the dimensions of the pouch;

It will be seen in all of the forms of the basket hereinbefore illustrated that the brace rods 7 in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and 33 in Figs. 5 and 6,.have the uprights continuing therefrom constructed in U-shaped form, or each unit comprising a brace rod and two uprights is applied to the runners or skids and fixed, to thereby produce a properly positioned brace rod and two uprights without requiring separate attachment of the brace rods and uprights. This feature is of material advantage in the assemblage of these brace rods and uprights and ensures a Vcertainty in positioning the same in accordance with a predetermined distance of separation which may be variedL proportionately to the variation in dimensions of strengthened and reinforced, and the refinforcin functlon of the brace rodsis also 1ncrease by the diagonal intersection ofthesaid brace rods, this latter feature further providing a more stable and reliable base support for the fabric pouch secured Within the frame, and the pulling or pushing strain exerted on the improved basket is more evenly distributed.

The baskets herein disclosed are of such shape that they may be readily nested when not in use, or for storage or transportation, and moreover, reinforcing or strengthening devices may be applied at such points as may be found necessary, to give the baskets greater rigidity, particularly baskets of large d1mensions.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is:

l. A laundry basket of the class specified, having a base structure composed of longitudinal and transverse connecting members comprising longitudinal runners in parallel. relation and ktransverse tie members secured at their opposite extremities to the upper sides of the runners, a plurality of U-shaped units arranged in pairs andhaving horizonf tal members diagonally crossing in the base structure below the said tie members, the runners having metal straps secured over the upper surfaces thereof and continuedk around the ends and partially over the lower sides of the opposite extremities of the said runners, said straps also extending over the horizontal members of the U-shaped units crossing the runners, roller devices applied to the base to facilitate movement thereof, a rim surrounding the top of the basket and having the upper ends of the uprights secured thereto, and a pouch associated with and connectedv to the uprights and rim and having the bottom thereof loosely engaging the base structure.

2. A laundry basket of the class specified, having abase structure composed of longitudinally disposed, parallel runners and transverse connecting members terminally bearing on the upper surfaces of the runners, metal straps extending the full length over the upper sides of the runners and over the opposite ends of the latter and partially over the undersides of the said runners, the straps being bent at intervals over and embracing the ends of the transverse connecting members, intersecting, diagonally arranged pairs of horizontally disposed rods under the connecting members and extending over the up-per edges of the runners beneath the'straps, the longitudinal members being continued into vertical, parallel uprights along the outer side edge portions of the runners to form a skeleton frame for the basket, the uprights providing reinforcing means for the basket structure, a rim surrounding the top of the basketand connected to the upper ends of the uprights, and a pouch associated with and connected to the uprights and rim and having the bottom thereof loosely engaging the base structure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

